Donald G. Rockwell Sworn in as State Bar President

Donald G. Rockwell Sworn in as State Bar President

Donald G. RockwellDonald G. Rockwell, of Flint, has been sworn in as the 83rd president of the State Bar of Michigan. Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Stephen J. Markman presided at the Sept. 28 ceremony, which took place in conjunction with the SBM NEXT Conference at Cobo Center in Detroit.

Rockwell is the founder of Nill Rockwell, P.C., in Flint and devotes most of his time to serving as university counsel for Kettering University. He also litigates and serves as a mediator, arbitrator, case evaluator, and umpire in various types of disputes, including personal injury, property, business, insurance, and employment claims.

Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Stephen J. Markman also swore in other officers for the 2017-2018 bar year, including President-Elect Jennifer M. Grieco, of Birmingham; Vice President Dennis M. Barnes, of Detroit; Secretary Robert J. Buchanan, of Grand Rapids; and Treasurer Dana M. Warnez, of Center Line.

Rockwell will lead an organization of over 45,000 members that works to improve the administration of justice, promotes the legal profession, and builds public understanding of the legal system. He has been involved in State Bar work for more than a decade and has served on many of its committees and groups. He has served on the SBM Board of Commissioners for many years, and has served as treasurer, secretary, vice president, and president-elect. He has also served on the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly.

Rockwell has served as a judge on the 67th District Court bench in Genesee County. He has also served as president of the Genesee County Bar Association, a founding member and the first president of the UM-Flint Alumni Society, as past president of the American Inns of Court Centennial Chapter, and as a past president of the Rotary Club of Flint. He served for over 20 years on the board of the Community Dispute Resolution Center, which provides mediation services to nine counties in Michigan. He is also currently serving as president of the Flint Township Civil Service Commission, as well as a board member and secretary of Carriage Town Ministries.

He received his bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Michigan–Flint and earned his law degree cum laude from the University of Detroit School of Law.